Psychotropic medication discussion thread

Could someone please share their experiences with Cymbalta? I’m curious about what it was like for you all, including the specific dosages you were taking at the time.
Thanks

Timothy Wood38 said:Could someone please share their experiences with Cymbalta? I’m curious about what it was like for you all, including the specific dosages you were taking at the time.
Thanks

It was about a month and a half for me—first my appetite just vanished, and then I was mostly just sleepy. Honestly, I didn't feel much effect at all, and I can't even recall the exact dose...

fadedbear92 said:I’ve said it more than once before, and I’ll say it again—hats off to anyone who can actually swallow those pills without them getting stuck. Honestly, I tried twice myself and my gag reflex just took over and spat the pill right back out! It wouldn't even get past my tongue. And then, while I was sitting there in total discomfort, some "brilliant" medical professional had the nerve to ask me, "Well, how do you manage to eat, then?" Seriously?🙂🙂🙂🙄

The whole procedure is just plain uncomfortable. I've had to go in four times now—the last time, I finally just opted for general anesthesia because I honestly couldn't take the sensation anymore.

fadedbear92 said:Just a silly question here—has anyone actually put on weight while taking empty? I'm just looking for a simple explanation for why my life jacket is getting a bit too tight!🙂🤦😱

Not really. I took them quite a bit when I was tapering off Xanax and Tylenol, and I didn't notice any weight gain myself.

I’ve been searching online, but I just can't seem to find any real-world experiences regarding this specific combination for depression.
So, my new psychiatrist prescribed me Venlafaxine at 75 mg twice a day, along with 25 mg of Arvind. He mentioned—and I’m quoting him here—that while the Arvind might not seem to have an immediate effect, its main purpose is to prevent me from sliding back into those deep depressive episodes. It’s strange, though; most sources don't even list it as a mood stabilizer, just something for epilepsy.
I would truly appreciate it if anyone could share their personal experiences with this medication.

I’ve been forgetting things lately (which I suppose is just one of those side effects from A. D. 😁)

I feel incredibly on edge. Honestly, I'm as touchy as a powder keg; I seem to overreact to every little thing. I am constantly losing things, too. My entire day basically revolves around trying to figure out how to nap during the daylight hours—since I have responsibilities, I can't just sleep all day—but otherwise, it feels like I'm just hunting for lost items. Keys, paperwork, an umbrella... you name it. Everything is just constant chaos, and I can't seem to get organized at all. It just adds to this tension and the exhaustion I'm always feeling.
Maybe this is coming from the depression, or maybe it's the medication 🤷

Honestly, I’m at a point where I can’t tell if my brain is just moving in slow motion because of the Apurin and everything else I'm taking—or if it's just the anxiety finally catching up to me.

feralstag72 said:Honestly, I’m at a point where I can’t tell if my brain is just moving in slow motion because of the Apurin and everything else I'm taking—or if it's just the anxiety finally catching up to me.

I usually feel sluggish if I don't get out of bed early enough. And by "early," I mean anything after 7:00 AM. 😬

Back when I was on 2 Prozac pills a day, there was a stretch where I could barely drag myself out of bed. It felt way too cozy to move. Once they bumped my dose up to three—the max—things actually started feeling a bit more normal. I also started taking those Supradyn effervescent tablets. Just some basic vitamins and minerals. They're a lifesaver. Since I'm still losing weight on Prozac, I often forget to eat, which makes me feel terrible once my supplies run low. That's why I need the supplements.

As for the Lorazepam, yeah, it definitely slows you down. I try to stay away from it because of that.

feralstag72 said:The whole procedure is just plain uncomfortable. I've had to go in four times now—the last time, I finally just opted for general anesthesia because I honestly couldn't take the sensation anymore.

Could you shoot me a DM with the details? I'd love to know where you went, how much it cost, and if it was truly general anesthesia or just one of those types where you don't feel anything—but apparently doesn't totally kill your reflexes... please! Thank you so much!!😍🙂

John Thomas13 said:I’ve been searching online, but I just can't seem to find any real-world experiences regarding this specific combination for depression.
So, my new psychiatrist prescribed me Venlafaxine at 75 mg twice a day, along with 25 mg of Arvind. He mentioned—and I’m quoting him here—that while the Arvind might not seem to have an immediate effect, its main purpose is to prevent me from sliding back into those deep depressive episodes. It’s strange, though; most sources don't even list it as a mood stabilizer, just something for epilepsy.
I would truly appreciate it if anyone could share their personal experiences with this medication.

That’s just the generic version of Lamictal.!!!

Arvind is actually used to treat two quite different conditions—epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder (Adults 18+)

For patients living with bipolar disorder, Lamictal is actually indicated to help prevent those depressive episodes from hitting—it really helps maintain some stability.

Just a quick heads-up for the younger crowd—Arvind isn't cleared for treating bipolar disorder in anyone under 18.

I was just browsing through the Pfizer website—you know how those big pharma sites can be—and I stumbled upon some interesting info regarding their current lineup. It’s always worth a look to see what they're up to lately!

http://www.centar-zdravlja.net/image...287340_758.pdf

Arvind is used to help stabilize those extreme mood swings—you know, the deep lows of depression or the intense highs of mania—in adults living with bipolar disorder. It’s particularly helpful when it comes to keeping those depressive episodes at bay.

http://lijekovi-lijecenje.blogspot.c...amotrigin.html

"..While Lamictal is technically an antiepileptic, it’s actually become a go-to for managing bipolar disorder—especially those tricky depressive episodes when standard antidepressants just don't cut it. It essentially works by dialing down excessive electrical activity in the brain. Interestingly, clinical studies suggest it operates quite differently from your typical mood stabilizers or other seizure medications.
Studies looking into using Lamictal for folks dealing with BPD show it’s incredibly effective at tackling those core symptoms—you know, the impulsivity, the depression, and those sudden mood swings—which is exactly why it’s become the go-to first choice for many Americans living with the disorder.

Usually, you'll see Lamictal prescribed in doses ranging from 100 to 400 mg—though, of course, there are plenty of generics available here in the States as well. Arvind What kind of products does Pfizer make?

fadedbear92, thanks for all the effort, I think I just misspoke earlier (plus my focus is pretty shot lately🙄)
The packaging says what it says, but I couldn't find much online about people using it for depression. Every search result just points toward epilepsy.
Since the label mentions needing to be careful if you're also on hormone therapy, I haven't wanted to start taking it yet. I guess I'll wait until I feel more certain.
So, does that mean I should look up experiences with Lamictal instead? Would that be basically the same thing?

fadedbear92 said:I’ve said it more than once before, and I’ll say it again—hats off to anyone who can actually swallow those pills without them getting stuck. Honestly, I tried twice myself and my gag reflex just took over and spat the pill right back out! It wouldn't even get past my tongue. And then, while I was sitting there in total discomfort, some "brilliant" medical professional had the nerve to ask me, "Well, how do you manage to eat, then?" Seriously?🙂🙂🙂🙄

Give me a break. I'm already having a rough day and now I have to read this.🙂I was thinking about seeing a private specialist to just do it under general anesthesia, or at least have them numb my reflexes. Honestly, I'm terrified.😢 😢 😢

Larry Lewis said:Kenneth Scott41, give me a break... seriously, is there any medication left on this planet that you haven't cycled through yet?

I suppose I get asked that quite often myself. 😁

@ Justin Rogers5
Why don't you go ahead and ask? I'm still waiting on an answer from feralstag72 myself--fingers crossed he gets back to us soon.

Justin Rogers5 said:Give me a break. I'm already having a rough day and now I have to read this.🙂I was thinking about seeing a private specialist to just do it under general anesthesia, or at least have them numb my reflexes. Honestly, I'm terrified.😢 😢 😢

Look, it isn't actually that scary, it’s just uncomfortable. You've had a swallowing reflex since you were a baby—it's basically muscle memory at this point.

The whole trick is just to relax. Maybe take something to calm your nerves about four hours beforehand—just with a tiny sip of water.

Justin Rogers5 said:Give me a break. I'm already having a rough day and now I have to read this.🙂I was thinking about seeing a private specialist to just do it under general anesthesia, or at least have them numb my reflexes. Honestly, I'm terrified.😢 😢 😢

Look, if we are being honest, I am a massive coward and a total panic artist, but I managed to white-knuckle my way through those few minutes. It doesn't actually hurt, but it is incredibly uncomfortable—it’s one of those sensations that makes you feel like you're about to heave. I went through with it twice before, but when I got scheduled for a third time after a seven-year gap, I completely bailed; the fear just gripped me, and now I’ve pushed my next appointment back by another nine months. A close friend of mine had it done under deep sedation, where you simply drift off and feel absolutely nothing, only to wake up in a recovery room... at a private facility $500 in Cincinnati, I actually had my colonoscopy done that way.

feralstag72 said:Look, it isn't actually that scary, it’s just uncomfortable. You've had a swallowing reflex since you were a baby—it's basically muscle memory at this point.

The whole trick is just to relax. Maybe take something to calm your nerves about four hours beforehand—just with a tiny sip of water.

Exactly. I ended up skipping this trip because my mouth gets incredibly dry and I find myself constantly reaching for water, but when you're strictly forbidden from drinking anything for at least four hours prior... well, I simply couldn't resist the urge and overdid it. Plus, if I take my xanax four hours early, the effect wears off long before the actual procedure begins.

Kenneth Scott41 said:I suppose I get asked that quite often myself. 😁

And honestly? I’m hardly any better off when it comes to that particular mess myself.🙂

I think I’ll just stick to private clinics. At the Mayo Clinic in Cleveland, it’s $55 for an exam, plus maybe another $600 if they need to do a gastro endoscopy. Once, at a different place, they tried to do a throat swab—they shoved a swab down my throat and I started choking, my whole throat just tightened up. Then the nurse had the nerve to tell me I was being dramatic. I told her exactly where she could shove that swab.😉So I went to a private specialist instead. They actually kept me calm, and the whole thing was over in a heartbeat.😍

What do you guys think about tapering off Sanval? I’ve been on 5 mg for quite a while now—I actually started out at 10 mg before dropping down to this dose—but honestly, if I don't take it, I just can't catch any sleep at all. Does anyone know of a good alternative medication that might work better than Sanval? Usually, the way to wean yourself off is by slowly lowering the dose, but I'm feeling pretty stuck and I'm just not sure how much lower I can actually go without losing my mind. 🙂